Facts about Michigan

1. Michigan is the only state in the U.S which consists of two peninsulas – the Lower (mainly an industrial area) and Upper Peninsulas (sparsely populated but mineral-rich).[1,5]

2. Ann Arbor, Michigan, is home to the iconic chewing gum wall. This wall on East Liberty Street was painted in 1999 by artist Katherine Cost as a form of free expression. Also known as “Graffiti Alley,” one of the walls is entirely layered by used chewing gum. Sticking chewing gum on the wall is a tradition that has grown in popularity since 1999 and is enjoyed by tourists and locals alike.

Michigan on the map

3. Michigan has an estimated 65,000 inland lakes and ponds. This puts any person in the state within a distance of six miles from a natural water source.[1]

Flag of Michigan

4. According to the Guinness World Records, Michigan is also home to the world’s tallest identical twins Michael and James Lanier (USA) (b. 27 November 1969) from Troy, Michigan, both stand 2.235m (7ft 3in). Their sister Jennifer is 1.57 m (5 ft 2 in) tall.[23]

5. Livonia, Michigan, is considered one of the worst speed trap cities in North America. In fact, the town was listed #2 in this category by the National Motorists Association (NMA) in 2012. While this might not fare well with out-of-towners and tourists, this distinction has put Livonia on the map as one of the safest cities for automotive transportation in the nation.

6. The state is also home to the headquarters of three major automobile manufacturing companies (General Motors Corp., Chrysler LLC, and Ford Motor Co.) in the world.[1]

7. Michigan has one of the world’s longest suspension bridges – the Mackinac Bridge. It is five miles long and connects the Upper Peninsula to the other parts of the state.[2]

8. The first factory to assemble cars on a moving assembly line – the Highland Park Ford plant – is in Michigan. In 1978, it became a National Historic Landmark. This place was the second production facility for Henry Ford’s famous Model T. The famous Henry Ford Museum is also situated in the state.[3,4]

9. Michigan also has the nation’s longest freshwater coastline (3,288 miles), and second-longest coastline of any U.S. state, after Alaska.[9]

10. The name of the state is derived from the word michi–gama (a Chippewa word), meaning “large lake.”[5]

11. Michigan has its border with four (Superior, Huron, Michigan, and Erie) of the five Great Lakes (Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario).[5]

12. The state is also home to Kellogg Company,the world’s leading ready-to-eat cereal producer. Battle Creek is one of the leading producers of cereal in the U.S. The city is nicknamed “Cereal Bowl of America”.[5,29]

13. Agriculture, manufacturing, and tourism are the major revenue generating industries of the state.[5]

14. The completion of the first railroad in Michigan took place in 1836 and the first air passenger service was flagged off in the state in 1926.[5]

15. Michigan is also known as “Motor City” because it is a hub for car manufacturing since the early 1900s.[6]

16. Mount Arvon, the state’s highest point lies in the Upper Peninsula. More than 40% of the state is covered in water, which is more than any other state.[6]

18.Dearborn, Michigan, boasts the largest Arab-American community in the nation. The city features the first Arab-American museum in the country with plenty of exhibits, cultural displays, and literary, artistic, and sculptural works of art. The area also showcases a full variety of Arab and Arab-American owned grocery stores, cafes, restaurants, entertainment venues, and mosques.

The State Quarter

19. Michigan also has a mail delivery boat—J.W. Westcott II–which delivers mails to ships while they are waterborne. It is the only floating ZIP code in the United States. It is addressed “Vessel Name, Marine Post Office, Detroit, Michigan, 48222.”[7]

20. The state is also home to the world’s largest cement manufacturing plant. The Huron Portland Cement Company started producing cement in Alpena in 1908.[8]

21. Grand Rapids, the second-largest city in Michigan after Detroit, was rated as one of the 20 best livable cities in the U.S.[9]

22. Grand Rapids, Michigan, was once a significant hub for furniture manufacturing with over 40 reputable companies. Still known as “Furniture City,” Grand Rapids does manufacture all types of residential and commercial furniture year-round. This includes hand-crafted wood furniture and accessories for homes, offices, and other establishments. However, this industry has taken a backseat to beer and spirits manufacturing

23. The state is also the birthplace of “Motown Records”, which is one of the most successful soul music companies.[9]

The state coat of arms

24. With over 150, Michigan has the most lighthouses of any U.S. state.[10]

As daylight begins yielding to twilight, The Crisp Point Lighthouse at sunset on Lake Superior, Upper Peninsula, Michigan, USA.

25. In 1846, Michigan became the first English speaking government to abolish the death penalty for all ordinary crimes.[11]

26. Michigan and Oregon are the only two states in the U.S. that offer 10 cents back for recycling a can.[12]

Cherry In the United States, most sweet cherries are grown in Washington, California, Oregon, Wisconsin, and Michigan.

27. Traverse City, a city in Michigan, is known as “the cherry capital of the world.”[13]

28.The Ambassador Bridge, which is a suspension bridge, connects Detroit, Michigan, U.S. and Windsor, Ontario, Canada. The bridge is economically important as it is the busiest international border crossing in North America in terms of trade volume.[14]

The Ambassador Bridge, one of the links from Windsor Canada to Detroit, Michigan. Image credit – Flickr

29. Michigan also has the world’s largest limestone quarry located near Rogers City. It is operated by Michigan Limestone and Chemical Company.[15]

30. Michigan is the 16th largest chemical producing state in the U.S., generating $2.5 billion in annual payroll. Every light car produced in the U.S. contains more than $3,500 of chemical products.[16]

31. Apples are the largest and most valuable fruit crop in Michigan. The state has 11.3 million apple trees. Michigan is the third largest apple producing state in the U.S.[17]

32. The Detroit Zoo in Detroit, Michigan hosts more than 1.5 million visitors annually. This makes it Michigan’s largest paid family attraction. It is home to more than 2,000 animals of 230 species. Moreover, it was the first zoo in the United States to use barless exhibits extensively.[18]

33. The world’s largest specimen of float copper was discovered in 1997 on the Quincy Mine claims near Hancock, Northern Michigan by the two landholders when they were searching their property with a metal detector. The specimen was approximately 14 feet long and 12 feet wide, with thickness up to 17 inches. The specimen is estimated to be worth at least $100,000.[27]